Neocons Go Full Witkoff-Leaks To Try To Destroy Trump Peace Plans

Episode Overview

Title: Neocons Go Full Witkoff-Leaks To Try To Destroy Trump Peace Plans
Podcast: Human Events Daily with Jack Posobiec
Date: November 26, 2025

This episode centers on the explosive leak of a phone call between Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and a top Russian aide regarding ongoing Ukraine peace negotiations, which threatens to derail progress toward a settlement in the Russia-Ukraine war. Host Jack Posobiec, joined by former Pentagon official Dan Caldwell, frames the incident as a deliberate attempt by neoconservative and establishment interests to undermine the Trump administration's efforts for a negotiated peace, while dissecting the forces in Washington invested in long-term conflict. Broader themes include the motivations behind D.C.’s foreign policy “religion,” the history behind U.S. involvement in Ukraine, and how media narratives shape or sabotage diplomatic efforts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Witkoff Leaks and Peace Negotiations

The Breaking Story: Bloomberg published leaked details of a classified phone conversation between Trump’s right-hand man Steve Witkoff and a Putin aide about the Ukraine peace process. Posobiec refers to this as “Witkoff Leaks,” a play on WikiLeaks ([03:38]).
Attempted Sabotage: Posobiec and Caldwell strongly present the leak as a calculated move by entrenched interests to sabotage peace talks and set up grounds for another Trump impeachment, likening tactics to those previously used in the Mike Flynn case ([05:01], [10:45]).
Standard Negotiating Practice: Posobiec argues the leaked conversation reflects routine diplomatic negotiations and that Witkoff was directly tasked by Trump to pursue peace as part of his cabinet role ([05:30]).

2. Washington Resistance to Peace—Motives and Players

Financial and Credibility Stakes: Caldwell highlights that Washington think tanks and government players have invested years in the narrative of a total Ukrainian victory and stand to lose financially, politically, and in reputation if a settlement is reached ([11:21]).
- Quote: “They want them to fail for a number of reasons... there are obviously a lot of entities... invested in this narrative for years... and that the war was always going to end at the negotiating table.” —Dan Caldwell ([10:45])
Jealousy of Success: Caldwell attributes some attacks against Witkoff and Trump’s team to jealousy since, in under a year, they have done “more to end wars... than these diplomats did in 20 or 30 years” ([15:01]).
European Stake: Posobiec notes Western European leaders are invested in prolonging the conflict to distract from domestic failures and threats like mass migration ([13:30]).

3. The Realities and Sticking Points of the Ukraine Peace Plan

Disinformation Campaigns: Caldwell urges skepticism regarding media leaks about peace deal details, pointing out multiple competing plans (28-point, 19-point, European, Ukrainian, Russian) are in play, each being shaped to appeal to domestic and international constituencies ([22:16]).
- Quote: “Believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see right now. There is a massive disinformation campaign...” —Dan Caldwell ([22:16])
Major Sticking Points: Central unresolved issues include:
- Ukraine’s future alignment (NATO/EU membership)
- Security guarantees for Ukraine
- Territorial arrangements (land swaps, buffer zones)
- Size of Ukrainian military Caldwell emphasizes that many concessions are symbolic, designed to let each side claim victory domestically ([23:10]).
NATO as a Dealbreaker: Both Posobiec and Caldwell agree any roadmap for NATO membership is a non-starter for Russia and possibly even the Trump administration, but is inserted by some Europeans as a “poison pill” ([24:40]).

4. Neoconservatism as D.C.’s ‘Religion’

Emotional, Ideological Commitment: The episode delves into why “neocons” so vehemently oppose diplomatic solutions. Caldwell calls it a “religion of American primacy,” a secular theology taught in policy schools and shared by Republicans and Democrats alike ([28:56]).
- Quote: “Their religion is American primacy... that America was founded with this holy mission to make the world safe... for liberalism as a whole.” —Dan Caldwell ([28:56])
Trump as a ‘Heretic’: Trump’s direct, unorthodox negotiation style is seen as blasphemous to the established order, which prefers multilateral process and institutional control. His appointment of outsiders like Witkoff to key diplomatic roles rattles the Beltway’s sense of order ([31:10]).
- Quote: “So to them... they view Trump... it isn’t even just so much that he's offering, you know, a peace deal to the Russians. It's the way that he's going about it. He's not kissing the ring, he's not going through the institutions...” —Jack Posobiec ([31:10])
Think Tank Cartels: Posobiec and Caldwell critique bipartisan foreign policy institutions (AEI, Brookings) as indistinguishable in worldview, run by connected families always advocating for ongoing global military engagement ([32:35]).

5. Reflections on Broader U.S. Foreign Policy

Venezuela Example: The hosts discuss U.S. posturing around Venezuela to illustrate the same D.C. “religious” fervor for intervention—sometimes opposed by traditional hawks, but mostly based on who is president and the project of “liberal hegemony” rather than real U.S. interests ([33:38]).
- Quote: “It is, I don't think it's in our interest to conduct a regime change war in our own hemisphere... they're more attached to what happens in the Middle East or in Eastern Europe than our own hemisphere...” —Dan Caldwell ([34:41])
Strategic Focus: Caldwell and Posobiec advocate for prioritizing the Western Hemisphere (e.g., controlling drug cartels) over costly entanglements in Eastern Europe ([36:12]).

6. Historical Context and Closing Thoughts

Roots of U.S.-Ukraine Entanglement: The episode traces the origins of the current crisis to Western-backed regime changes in Ukraine, highlighting involvement by figures like John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Amy Klobuchar, and the Bidens ([16:15]).
- Quote: “You cannot... There's a straight line from Victoria Nguyen handing out cookies on the Maidan to neo-Nazi organizations to what we're dealing with now. It's a straight line of the... Of foreign policy establishment failure.” —Dan Caldwell ([17:36])
History as a Warning: Posobiec and Caldwell stress the importance of understanding history (“not just WWII, but WWI”) to avoid repeating strategic mistakes ([36:47]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the intent to sabotage peace:
“They're looking for another leak... to set up another impeachment. A color revolution, get Trump out of office. That's what this is all about.” —Jack Posobiec ([03:49])
On D.C. establishment interests:
“They're trying to take down people like Steve Witkoff... and they're also trying to divide the Trump team. They're trying to pit them against each other. And it's absolutely disgusting.” —Dan Caldwell ([11:21])
On the face-saving measures in negotiation:
“There's going to be some face-saving things for both sides... So like the cap on the Ukrainian army... if there's a cap, then the Russians can say they got something out of that.” —Dan Caldwell ([23:55])
On the Beltway mindset:
“It truly is the religion of D.C., the Bible of the beltway, if you will.” —Jack Posobiec ([31:10])
On history and foreign policy:
“Ukraine itself, the name ‘Ukraina’ means at the border. It means borderland. It's always been this sort of area where you see this clash of empires... if you don't, you should start learning it, because you will be doomed to repeat it.” —Jack Posobiec ([36:12])

Timestamps for Key Segments

Witkoff Leak Breaking (The Setup): [03:38]–[07:26]
Caldwell Joins, Analysis of Motives: [09:48]–[18:47]
Historical Context & U.S. Involvement in Ukraine: [16:15]–[17:36]
Peace Plans: Internal, External Pressures, and Disinformation: [22:16]–[25:43]
NATO Issue as a Poison Pill: [24:40]–[26:55]
Neoconservatism as Beltway Religion: [28:56]–[33:38]
Venezuela and Broader Foreign Policy Critique: [33:38]–[36:47]
Final Thoughts and Thanksgiving Reflection: [36:47]–[43:43]
Closing: Tribute to Charlie Kirk, Thanksgiving Discussion: [43:43]–end

Additional Highlights

Personal anecdotes: Posobiec reminisces emotionally about last Thanksgiving and the late Charlie Kirk, adding a human touch to the episode’s closing ([41:50]).
Thanksgiving banter: Lighthearted debate over pumpkin versus pecan pie; Posobiec asserts “pumpkin pie is required for Thanksgiving,” nodding to Kirk’s family traditions ([43:57]).

Takeaway

This episode offers an unfiltered, pointed critique of Washington’s foreign policy establishment and its resistance to negotiated peace in Ukraine, viewing recent leaks as symptomatic of a deeper ideological and institutional opposition to Trump’s America First diplomacy. Posobiec and Caldwell urge skepticism toward media narratives and establishment motives, painting ongoing events as both a power struggle and a quasi-religious contest over the direction of American foreign policy.

For more coverage, follow Dan Caldwell on X (@DanDCaldwell).

Episode Overview

Title: Neocons Go Full Witkoff-Leaks To Try To Destroy Trump Peace Plans
Podcast: Human Events Daily with Jack Posobiec
Date: November 26, 2025

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Witkoff Leaks and Peace Negotiations

The Breaking Story: Bloomberg published leaked details of a classified phone conversation between Trump’s right-hand man Steve Witkoff and a Putin aide about the Ukraine peace process. Posobiec refers to this as “Witkoff Leaks,” a play on WikiLeaks ([03:38]).
Attempted Sabotage: Posobiec and Caldwell strongly present the leak as a calculated move by entrenched interests to sabotage peace talks and set up grounds for another Trump impeachment, likening tactics to those previously used in the Mike Flynn case ([05:01], [10:45]).
Standard Negotiating Practice: Posobiec argues the leaked conversation reflects routine diplomatic negotiations and that Witkoff was directly tasked by Trump to pursue peace as part of his cabinet role ([05:30]).

2. Washington Resistance to Peace—Motives and Players

Financial and Credibility Stakes: Caldwell highlights that Washington think tanks and government players have invested years in the narrative of a total Ukrainian victory and stand to lose financially, politically, and in reputation if a settlement is reached ([11:21]).
- Quote: “They want them to fail for a number of reasons... there are obviously a lot of entities... invested in this narrative for years... and that the war was always going to end at the negotiating table.” —Dan Caldwell ([10:45])
Jealousy of Success: Caldwell attributes some attacks against Witkoff and Trump’s team to jealousy since, in under a year, they have done “more to end wars... than these diplomats did in 20 or 30 years” ([15:01]).
European Stake: Posobiec notes Western European leaders are invested in prolonging the conflict to distract from domestic failures and threats like mass migration ([13:30]).

3. The Realities and Sticking Points of the Ukraine Peace Plan

Disinformation Campaigns: Caldwell urges skepticism regarding media leaks about peace deal details, pointing out multiple competing plans (28-point, 19-point, European, Ukrainian, Russian) are in play, each being shaped to appeal to domestic and international constituencies ([22:16]).
- Quote: “Believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see right now. There is a massive disinformation campaign...” —Dan Caldwell ([22:16])
Major Sticking Points: Central unresolved issues include:
- Ukraine’s future alignment (NATO/EU membership)
- Security guarantees for Ukraine
- Territorial arrangements (land swaps, buffer zones)
- Size of Ukrainian military Caldwell emphasizes that many concessions are symbolic, designed to let each side claim victory domestically ([23:10]).
NATO as a Dealbreaker: Both Posobiec and Caldwell agree any roadmap for NATO membership is a non-starter for Russia and possibly even the Trump administration, but is inserted by some Europeans as a “poison pill” ([24:40]).

4. Neoconservatism as D.C.’s ‘Religion’

Emotional, Ideological Commitment: The episode delves into why “neocons” so vehemently oppose diplomatic solutions. Caldwell calls it a “religion of American primacy,” a secular theology taught in policy schools and shared by Republicans and Democrats alike ([28:56]).
- Quote: “Their religion is American primacy... that America was founded with this holy mission to make the world safe... for liberalism as a whole.” —Dan Caldwell ([28:56])
Trump as a ‘Heretic’: Trump’s direct, unorthodox negotiation style is seen as blasphemous to the established order, which prefers multilateral process and institutional control. His appointment of outsiders like Witkoff to key diplomatic roles rattles the Beltway’s sense of order ([31:10]).
- Quote: “So to them... they view Trump... it isn’t even just so much that he's offering, you know, a peace deal to the Russians. It's the way that he's going about it. He's not kissing the ring, he's not going through the institutions...” —Jack Posobiec ([31:10])
Think Tank Cartels: Posobiec and Caldwell critique bipartisan foreign policy institutions (AEI, Brookings) as indistinguishable in worldview, run by connected families always advocating for ongoing global military engagement ([32:35]).

5. Reflections on Broader U.S. Foreign Policy

Venezuela Example: The hosts discuss U.S. posturing around Venezuela to illustrate the same D.C. “religious” fervor for intervention—sometimes opposed by traditional hawks, but mostly based on who is president and the project of “liberal hegemony” rather than real U.S. interests ([33:38]).
- Quote: “It is, I don't think it's in our interest to conduct a regime change war in our own hemisphere... they're more attached to what happens in the Middle East or in Eastern Europe than our own hemisphere...” —Dan Caldwell ([34:41])
Strategic Focus: Caldwell and Posobiec advocate for prioritizing the Western Hemisphere (e.g., controlling drug cartels) over costly entanglements in Eastern Europe ([36:12]).

6. Historical Context and Closing Thoughts

Roots of U.S.-Ukraine Entanglement: The episode traces the origins of the current crisis to Western-backed regime changes in Ukraine, highlighting involvement by figures like John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Amy Klobuchar, and the Bidens ([16:15]).
- Quote: “You cannot... There's a straight line from Victoria Nguyen handing out cookies on the Maidan to neo-Nazi organizations to what we're dealing with now. It's a straight line of the... Of foreign policy establishment failure.” —Dan Caldwell ([17:36])
History as a Warning: Posobiec and Caldwell stress the importance of understanding history (“not just WWII, but WWI”) to avoid repeating strategic mistakes ([36:47]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the intent to sabotage peace:
“They're looking for another leak... to set up another impeachment. A color revolution, get Trump out of office. That's what this is all about.” —Jack Posobiec ([03:49])
On D.C. establishment interests:
“They're trying to take down people like Steve Witkoff... and they're also trying to divide the Trump team. They're trying to pit them against each other. And it's absolutely disgusting.” —Dan Caldwell ([11:21])
On the face-saving measures in negotiation:
“There's going to be some face-saving things for both sides... So like the cap on the Ukrainian army... if there's a cap, then the Russians can say they got something out of that.” —Dan Caldwell ([23:55])
On the Beltway mindset:
“It truly is the religion of D.C., the Bible of the beltway, if you will.” —Jack Posobiec ([31:10])
On history and foreign policy:
“Ukraine itself, the name ‘Ukraina’ means at the border. It means borderland. It's always been this sort of area where you see this clash of empires... if you don't, you should start learning it, because you will be doomed to repeat it.” —Jack Posobiec ([36:12])

Timestamps for Key Segments

Witkoff Leak Breaking (The Setup): [03:38]–[07:26]
Caldwell Joins, Analysis of Motives: [09:48]–[18:47]
Historical Context & U.S. Involvement in Ukraine: [16:15]–[17:36]
Peace Plans: Internal, External Pressures, and Disinformation: [22:16]–[25:43]
NATO Issue as a Poison Pill: [24:40]–[26:55]
Neoconservatism as Beltway Religion: [28:56]–[33:38]
Venezuela and Broader Foreign Policy Critique: [33:38]–[36:47]
Final Thoughts and Thanksgiving Reflection: [36:47]–[43:43]
Closing: Tribute to Charlie Kirk, Thanksgiving Discussion: [43:43]–end

Additional Highlights

Personal anecdotes: Posobiec reminisces emotionally about last Thanksgiving and the late Charlie Kirk, adding a human touch to the episode’s closing ([41:50]).
Thanksgiving banter: Lighthearted debate over pumpkin versus pecan pie; Posobiec asserts “pumpkin pie is required for Thanksgiving,” nodding to Kirk’s family traditions ([43:57]).

Takeaway

For more coverage, follow Dan Caldwell on X (@DanDCaldwell).

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Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Witkoff Leaks and Peace Negotiations

2. Washington Resistance to Peace—Motives and Players

3. The Realities and Sticking Points of the Ukraine Peace Plan

4. Neoconservatism as D.C.’s ‘Religion’

5. Reflections on Broader U.S. Foreign Policy

6. Historical Context and Closing Thoughts

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Additional Highlights

Takeaway

Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Witkoff Leaks and Peace Negotiations

2. Washington Resistance to Peace—Motives and Players

3. The Realities and Sticking Points of the Ukraine Peace Plan

4. Neoconservatism as D.C.’s ‘Religion’

5. Reflections on Broader U.S. Foreign Policy

6. Historical Context and Closing Thoughts

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Additional Highlights

Takeaway